Thai infidelity claim brings strong denials
Thai lovers and couples have been identified as the world's most unfaithful in a Durex sex survey of 29,000 people in 36 countries.
The survey – which has been challenged by local medical and gender groups – also concluded that Thai women were the second most likely to cheat on their mates.
Thai married couples and lovers topped the survey at cuckolding (54 per cent) followed by South Korea (34 per cent) and Malaysia (33 per cent). The survey by the UK-based condom maker did not give details distinguishing infidelity between married couples or live-in couples.
While 59 per cent of Thai women reportedly admitted to infidelity, they were still more faithful than Ghanaian women, who ranked first at 62 per cent. Women in Malaysia, Russia, and Singapore followed in third, fourth and fifth places (39 per cent, 33 per cent and 19 per cent, respectively). According to the survey, Asian men were the most promiscuous in the world. Men in Singapore and Hong Kong had an average of 16 bed partners in their lifetime, while Malaysian men had about three.
Responding to the survey, Supensri Puengkoksung of the Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation said the poll did not reflect the real situation in Thailand. It just reflected the opinion of people who were approached and ready to answer the survey. “You could not say that all Thai women had cheated on their partners and always had affairs with other men,” she said.
She added that personally, she did not support men or women cheating on their partners or having affairs, because it was immoral behaviour. “The ability to cheat on partners and have affairs with others does not mean women are equal with men,” she said.
Meanwhile, a deputy director of the Mental Health Department, Dr Tawee Tangseri, said he doubted Thai women often cheated on their partners because they adhered to tradition and preserved their purity. Only a small proportion cheated on their partners to have sex with other men.
He said cheating behaviour among couples was caused by misunderstandings between each other, adding that they should communicate better. “When you have problems as a couple, you should talk to your partner. No one wins, no one loses. Just take one step backward and the problem will end,” he said.
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